More car parking spaces for Preston station

Work is due to start at the end of May and passengers are advised that there will be a reduction in existing car parking spaces to allow construction of the new car park.

Virgin Trains Station Manager for Preston Ron Dixon said: "we would advise that the station car park is expected to be full by 07:30 each day and would ask customers to consider using alternative car parks or local buses, including the Park & Ride service, whilst the work takes place.

Mr Dixon added: "we would also urge all customers who travel to Preston station by car to allow extra time for their journey to the station, to ensure that they are still able to catch their intended train."

David Golding, Network Rail's Route Enhancements Manager said: "More passengers are now travelling by train than ever before and the demand for rail travel is set to continue to rise. We predict that a large proportion of these extra passengers will drive to the station, putting more strain on the car park. We need to increase the number of parking spaces to cater for this demand so, working with Virgin Trains, we have committed £90 million to transform parking at many of the stations on the west coast main line over the next 18 months."

The work at Preston is part of a joint project between Virgin Trains and Network Rail to improve car parking at all 17 stations on the West Coast route which are managed by Virgin Trains. The other stations involved are: Lancaster, Penrith, Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan North Western, Carlisle, Oxenholme, Runcorn, Crewe, Stockport, Macclesfield, Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, Wolverhampton, Birmingham International, Coventry and Rugby.

Virgin Trains and Network Rail are working closely with Passenger Focus to minimise the inconvenience to customers during the work to improve car parking at Preston station.